Pied Butcherbird

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

The pied butcherbird is a songbird native to Australia. Initially described by John Gould in 1837, it is a black-and-white bird 28 to 32 cm long with a long, hooked bill. Its head and throat are black, making a distinctive hood; the mantle and much of the tail and wings are also black. The neck, underparts, and outer wing feathers are white. The juvenile and immature birds are predominantly brown and white. As they mature, black feathers replace their brown feathers. There are two recognised subspecies of pied butcherbird.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

1. 01

   Solid black hood and throat bib

   Extends from the crown down to the upper breast, creating a sharp, clean-edged 'hood' that contrasts with the white collar.

2. 02

   Broad, complete white collar

   A striking, pure white band encircles the neck, cleanly separating the black hood from the black back and mantle.

3. 03

   Clean white rump

   Contrasts sharply with the black back and black-tipped tail. A very conspicuous feature, especially in flight.

4. 04

   Large, hook-tipped bill

   Bill is robust, pale blue-grey at the base with a black, sharply hooked tip, characteristic of the butcherbird family.